I decided to go to the gun show at the fairgrounds today. I've been thinking of giving myself a new snubbie revolver in .357 for carry and some other stuff (like sights for my S&W, a new small of back holster or maybe a paddle keltec, etc). I could even see my way into buying a case of 9mm ammo if the price is reasonable.

So, I go off to the gunshow to look at stuff and check prices on things. WHOA! Where did these people get their prices?

$1400 for an old beat up mossberg 12 ga. pump with half the blue gone? Most of the military antiques are priced up there also with no basis for the pricing. I mean, c'mon! I coulda bought a BEAUTIFUL low mileage scoped Sako .270 for less right off the next table.

Then, someone wanted $695 for a model 642 (without the crimson trace grips) and they "aren't making any profit at all on the gun"? How does about $175 bucks extra profit over normal retail sound to you? $35 for an 18 round box of 7.35 cal. ammo for a Carcano? (I have half a case of this stuff sitting in my safe. It usually sells for about $15 - $20/box). "But it comes with the clips" is the reason for double the price. Ummm, ALL the boxes come with the stripper clips. STANDARD! Another dealer wanted to sell me a miscellaneous rifle bolt for $10 and he didn't even know what it fit. (It fits a 6.5mm Carcano. You know, the rifle that killed President Kennedy. It's not like the thing is unknown or rare either. Troops were picking them up off the ground, literally, in north Africa during the war and the seller next door had TWO of them in the display rack.)

Gun show "deal" on holsters is 15% higher than at the gun shop regular price. PLUS TAX! A case of remanufactured 9mm (1000 rnds) was on "show special" for $98.

Highlight of the whole deal was when, in the aisle crush, me and another CCW got "hooked up" small of back to small of back. Clank, crack, OOPS, pardon me/sorry. Oh well, at least nothing fell on the concrete.

I take that back, THE highlight was the glass plateware display right across the aisle from the BB gun display. Plinkers paradise :mrgreen: and the glass sellers were oblivious to the humor. I coulda made a fortune selling tickets behind the BB gun counter and giving out keychain sized stuffed animals for prizes without firing a shot if I'd a had a red dot scope on one of the BB guns.... At least until security woulda showed up. :anim_lol:

Anyway, $5 for parking, $9 for admission and disgust at the price gouging going on. It would have been a total bust if it weren't for the humor over the glassware thing. Oh man, it STILL gives me a wicked smile just thinking about it.

06-09-2007, 05:27 PM

stormbringerr

g.s.

where in the world is this gun show held at Rob, sucker land?, the one in Austin is actually pretty good. 5 bucks for in & out all day, and prices the same as or lower than you can find by searching on the internet.what town is this in? ill be sure to stay away.

06-09-2007, 05:46 PM

Rob P.

Sorry, the show was in So Calif where guns are anathma and anti-gun legislation is the work of the rightious and mighty.

06-09-2007, 09:17 PM

Revolver

The ones near here are worse.

06-10-2007, 12:47 AM

Baldy

If I remember right the Orlando show was $8.00 to get in and free parking. I am done for the year anyway as I busted my piggy bank for the year.

06-10-2007, 08:26 PM

spacedoggy

I hate it when a gun show doesn't have anything or no deals. The one I went to today wasn't. Billboards all over the Tyler area advertising it. I guess they all over slept.
Most shows I see good deals. The tables at the front have higher prices then the tables in the back.
Have two more to go to this month. I think I'll call first.